Gentlemen

We have two Provission Vessells seiz'd at the mouth of our harbour the Last night by the Scarborough, and upon application to Capt. [Andrew] Barclay for their release, find he has possitive Orders from the Admiral to take Possession of all Vessells Laden with Provisions, Salt or Mollasses, and send them to Boston; and says further, those Orders are Circular through the Continentー

We give this earliest intelligence for your Government and also inform you that the Canceaux, a small Ship of Six or eight Guns, Sails the first wind, to convoy the two Vessells already seized, to Boston, and are sorry to find ourselves unable to prevent it, as we have our harbour blocked up, by a 20 Gun Ship, and have no Vessell of force able to Retake them. One Reason of our mentioning this Circumstance, and sending an Express this night with it is, because we have just heard that you have an armed Vessell in your Port,

We have ordered two small Vessells to cruize of[f] and on, and if possible give this Intelligence to all Vessells bound to this or any other Port, and trust you will do the same ー By Order of the Comtee [&c.]